How to change your router’s Wi-Fi settings

Wi-Fi is a tricky beast: temperamental, dodgy, and seemingly with a mind of its own. Sometimes you need to get in there and sort it the heck out.

But the first thing to do is learn how to change the Wi-Fi settings on your router in the
first place. Here's a quick guide to help you - we promise it's
easier than it seems.

How to change the settings

1. Find your router's IP address

An IP address is a series of numbers - 192.168.1.1 is a common
one - that identifies your connection. You'll need to know what
your router's IP address is in order to change its settings. There
are a number of ways you can find this out:

Check the back of your
router. Most have a sticker or a card with all the info you
need for logging onto its settings, including the IP address you
need.

Or, go into the Network and Sharing Center on your computer.
Select either 'Wireless Network Connection' or 'Local area
connection', then 'Details'. Look for 'IPv4 Default Gateway' - the
number next to this is the IP address you want.

Or, plug in an ethernet cable, and go to the Command Prompt.
Type in 'ipconfig' and press enter, and look for the number next to
where it says 'Default gateway'.

On a Mac: Go into System Preferences and choose 'Network'.
Click on the network you're connected to in the left-hand pane, and
on the right hand side it will tell you the router's IP
address.

2. Type it into a browser

Open any internet browser - Chrome, Internet Explorer, Firefox,
or Safari will all do - and type in that IP address you found. It
should take you to a login screen.

3. Log in

Enter the username and password for your router. You'll find
this on the back of your router, or in its manual.

Login info not working? Here's what you can do.

Plug in an ethernet cable. Search for 'network' in the Control
Panel, and select 'View Network Connections' (under the Network and
Sharing Center). Right-click on your ethernet connection and select
'Properties'. Make sure that 'Obtain IP address automatically' and
'Obtain DNS server automatically' are both selected. Then try
again.

Or, reset your router back to its factory settings - you'll
probably need to get a paperclip or pin and stick it in the 'reset'
hole. Then re-connect and try logging in again. This is really a
last resort, however - resetting a router deletes any settings you
may have changed.

Once you're successfully logged in, you'll be able to access a
page with all the router's settings.

What settings can I change?

Exactly what you can do here depends on your router - some are
more advanced than others, or simply have different capabilities.
But generally, this is where to go if you want to:

How do I open the Network and Sharing Center?

On a Windows PC, the Network and Sharing Center is your one stop
for all things networky. If you've ever had Wi-Fi problems, you'll
already be well acquainted with it, but if not, here's how to get
there:

Click on the icon on the right-hand side of the taskbar at the
bottom of the screen - it looks like a computer with either a cable
or a Wi-Fi symbol next to it. Select 'Open Network and Sharing
Center'.

Or, find it in the Control Panel. It'll be under the 'Network
and Internet' section.

If you're using a Mac, you won't have a Network and Sharing
Center on your computer. Instead, open System Preferences, and
choose 'Network'.

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